The document summarizes the history of South Asia, beginning with the arrival of the Aryans around 1800 BCE. It describes the Aryans' Vedic religious beliefs and social structure. It then discusses the emergence of early kingdoms like Magadha and the rise of large empires under the Mauryas and Kushanas. These empires expanded across northern India and contributed to the development of Indian civilization.
The document summarizes the history of South Asia, beginning with the arrival of the Aryans around 1800 BCE. It describes the Aryans' Vedic religious beliefs and social structure. It then discusses the emergence of early kingdoms like Magadha and the rise of large empires under the Mauryas and Kushanas. These empires expanded across northern India and contributed to the development of Indian civilization.
The document summarizes the history of South Asia, beginning with the arrival of the Aryans around 1800 BCE. It describes the Aryans' Vedic religious beliefs and social structure. It then discusses the emergence of early kingdoms like Magadha and the rise of large empires under the Mauryas and Kushanas. These empires expanded across northern India and contributed to the development of Indian civilization.
SOUTH ASIA Members: Becky, Harry, and Alice South Asia
• The first people who inhabited India were the Aryans.
• They were known for praising their gods in the form of hymns. • The hymns were called the Rig Veda. • Their Hindu beliefs became the foundation of other Indian religions that emerged later on. • The emergence of Magadha marked the start of kingdoms among the Aryan groups. • The rise of the Chandragupta Maurya extended the kingdom, guided by Kautilya’s Arthashastra. • The Mauryan Empire, Gupta Empire, and the Mughal Empire made a headway and contributed much to the formation of the present Indian civilization . The Aryan Period • Historical data on the peopling of the Indian subcontinent trace to the origin of the people to the Aryans. • The word Aryan does not refer to any distinct group of people • The Aryans were a loosely – knit network of tribes who shared a common culture. • They are collectively called Indo-Europeans based on the language they used, the sanskirt language. • Around 1800 BCE, a number of Indo-Europeans moved beyond the Iranian Plateau in to the Indian Subcontinent though mountains passes in the Hindu Kush Mountain. • Most of the evidence of the early presence of the Aryans in India could be gleaned from Vedas. • Vedas is a general term covering a vast body of hymns, prayers, charms, and special formulas as well as prose passages of explication and philosophical speculation. • The hymns composed by the Brahmin priests of the Aryans were carefully memorized and handed down by word of mouth to succeeding generations for centuries. • Those were considered very sacred. • The Rig Veda is the oldest among the Vedic literature. • It’s estimated to have been written in the Sanskirt language between 1500 and 800 BCE, making it the oldest text in the world! • It includes 1208 hymns for various Aryan Gods Sociopolitical Organization • The early Vedic tribes were patriarchal groupings of related families. • The tribal leaders or chief was called raja was elected by the tribe • He was assisted by two tribal assemblies, the sabha and the samiti • The sabha could have been the council of elders • While samiti was the general assembly of all free people • The raja was primarily a war leader and responsible for the defence of the tribe • The tribal leaders became the kings Religion • The Aryans worshipped several deities who were chiefly embodiments of natural elements such as air, sky, earth, and water • The priests preformed rituals in honor of the gods • Indra was the war and weather god. • Varuna is the guardian of the cosmic order • Rudra is identified with Shiva, the destroyer god of Hindus • At the center of the Aryan cult is sacrifices, sacrifices involved complex rites that required much preparation Economy • The cattle played an important part in the economy, the farmer Prays for the cattle, the warrior expects cattle for food, and the priest was rewarded with cattle. • The cattle were good as money and were used for medium exchange. • The horse was as important as the cow but mainly used in the military. • Other specialized trades and occupations were engaged. • Some of the people became jewellers, goldsmiths, metalworkers, carpenters, rope makers, weavers, dyers, and potters. Arts and Technology • Archaeological findings reveal the use of a number of musical instruments such as flute, lute, and harp. • The Vedas also pointed to activities such as singing and dancing. • Bronzesmiths were highly skilled in their art. • They produced tools and weapons superior to those in the Harappan civilization. • By about 1000 BCE, the Aryans had conquered much of India north of the Vindhya Range. • By the 7th century, the Aryans shifted eastwards and many of kingdoms emerged during that period. The Kingdom of Magadha • At around 550 BCE, one of the kingdoms in the northern part began to expand and rule over the other kingdoms. • It was led by an aggressive king, by the name of Bimsiara Magadha. • The kingdom started in the Ganges River Valley which is now the Bihar State. • The location enabled Magadha to control trade and communication along the river that provided the links to the rich ports in the Ganges Delta. • The two major religions, Jainism and Buddhism came from Magadha • Both encouraged ascetism and subscribed to smasara and karma Mauryan Empire • Alexander the Great didn’t say long in India. • By the 322 BCE, a new empire took over. • Chandragupta Maurya emerged as the head of an empire that included the whole northern and most of the northwest region in Indian subcontinent • Accounts of the Mauyan Empire cam from the Greek envoy, Megasthenes, who resided in Pataliputra during the empire. • Megasthenas described the city as a city of magnificent palaces, temples, gardens, and parks. • In it was a famous university and a library where scholars from all over the civilized world attended • Megasthenes describe the life of ‘’splendor and luxury” at the kings palace The Kushana Kingdom • The Kushan people came from a loose confederation of five Iranian speaking nomadic tribes from the northwest of China • Vima Kadphises, was the first leader of the Kushans • It was a period of great wealth marked by extensive mercantile activities • The political power and economic prosperity allowed the Kushanas to developed a tradition of courtly and speclar art • Notable was the development of buddhist painting and sculpturual style. • This later led to the development of the Gandhara School of Buddhist art in Asia after Mahayana Buddhism spreadin this region